It looks like the “full story arcs, new titles, new teams”
review schedule option is a clear winner in the
polls. I think that the reviews for ongoing sagas will be
done in the groupings used for the trade paperback
releases. (So, if Supreme Power Vol. 1
contains the first eight issues, those will be the issues I
review as a set. I can probably get those reviews out
before the final order date for the trade paperback, too, for
those who want to order it.) The same will be true ofExiles, or any other title with two or three issue
story arcs. Anyway, on to the review of the first issue in a
miniseries (which is now going to be seven issues.)

General Information

Title: Ultimate Six #1

Author: Brian Michael Bendis

Illustrator(s): Joe Quesada on the prologue, and Trevor
Hairsine on
the rest.

Original Publication Date: September 17, 2003

Cover Price: $2.99 US, $4.75 Can

Premise

S.H.I.E.L.D. has been rounding up individuals who have
modified their
genetic codes. This includes Norman Osborn, Otto
Octavius, Electro,
the “new and improved” Kraven the Hunter, and Sandman.
The sixth
member is as yet unrevealed; I have my suspicions, but
I’m not going
to share them in what’s usually a spoiler-free place.
(Spoilers will
wait for the comments, I’d wager.)

High Point

Deciding who would collect Kraven.

Low Point

The art in the panels with the green and black
backgrounds.

The Scores

How original is this? Have you ever seen the
first few
minutes of The Usual Suspects? (If the
answer wasn’t “yes,”
go rent it.) It may not be a common plot device in comics,
but it’s
certainly not unheard of. I do like where it seems to be
going,
though. I give it 4 out of 6.

The artwork is excellent when you’re not
looking at those
pages I mentioned above. The eyes on the first page look
better than
anything I’ve seen Quesada do before. I give it 4 out of 6.

The story is a solid introduction. The
characters are in
place in a rather plausible way, and some plot threads
have been laid
out that I’d like to see them follow. I give it 5 out of 6.

The characterization is clear for the villains,
thanks to the
round table discussion and interviews. The heroes are a
bit shallow,
as they aren’t the focus of this story. (Spider-Man isn’t
even in it
yet.) I give it 4 out of 6.

The emotional response this produced was
interest in this
story, and well built anticipation for the rest of the
miniseries. I
give it 5 out of 6.

The flow was rather well done, and helped
move the story
along. There was only one jarring transition. (It was the
one that
went to Kraven for the first time this issue.) I give it 4 out
of 6.

Overall, it’s a solid opening to a series that’s
looking
pretty good. I can’t wait to see how many of my guesses
pan out. I
give it 5 out of 6.

In total, Ultimate Six #1 receives 31 out of 42.

Additional Notes and Comments

Exiles Vol. 5: Unnatural Selection will be
reviewed some time
this weekend.